Atlético leaves through the front door of San Mamés
Griezmann gives the league podium to the ‘Cholo’ team in a hard-fought win (0-1) over Athletic Club
MADRID, 15 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid got the three points (0-1) from their visit to Athletic Club this Saturday in matchday nine of LaLiga Santander, a hard-fought and serious win for the Madrid team at San Mamés, thanks to the goal scored by Antoine Griezmann in the first play of the second half.
Griezmann changed the score but Diego Pablo Simeone’s team needed every sword to knock down Athletic who lost third place in the league to their rival. Atlético moved well in attack, with Álvaro Morata frustrated with the referee and VAR, and worked in defense to prevent the local reaction. Grbic, who came on in the 69th minute due to an injured Oblak, and Reinildo, who saved two sung goals, tied a match for the greats.
The poster, with the two teams in the Champions zone, promised and in intensity and struggle did not disappoint. The goal was resisted, until the beginning of the second half, but there was enough of the rest. Atlético was not intimidated by San Mamés and showed a lot of offensive intention, speed in their movements and a promising sense of danger.
The visiting problem was that Athletic did something very similar. Ernesto Valverde’s men had the speed and unchecking of Nico and Iñaki Williams and the creation of Muniain and Berenguer. However, the first very clear one was for Iñaki from a set piece, with a header that he did not direct well, despite being unmarked near Oblak’s small area.
After 10 minutes came the good response from Madrid, with a move after Morata unchecked that ended in a goal but that the referee annulled in the VAR for a foul on Yeray, who stumbled in the race. Atleti continued to combine quickly and with top quality, although no more clear chances appeared, not even for the Basques.
Control and high guard was broken on the restart. After several minutes waiting for a hole in the net to be fixed, Atlético struck on the first play of the second half, a good move by Morata and a perfect shot by Griezmann.
The Frenchman was the least precious in that quick game of the ‘Cholo’ team in the first half, but he showed why the club should make an effort to sign him. His 100% rojiblanca condition arrived last week and the Little Prince has a permanent position for work, quality and solutions, in charge of opening the can in San Mamés.
From there, the Basque team rushed in search of a tie and neglected a lot behind. Atlético was comfortable in defense, with Kondogbia as a marshal, and a defense that did not sink completely. On the other side, Morata continued with his fight, somewhat unhinged with the referee since that disallowed goal, in a second visiting time.
The setback for ‘Cholo’ came in his own team, with Oblak’s shoulder injury and some paraphernalia to get him off the field. 20 minutes from the end Saúl and Correa also entered – Joao Félix would also enter although he contributed little and even seemed physically ‘touched’ – but Athletic managed to tilt the field. Grbic dressed as Oblak scoring a goal against Vesga and a shot against Iñigo Martínez at the start of a long local siege discount.
After that header, the third shot of the same play led the referee to signal a penalty, but the VAR warned him that Reinildo had cleared the ball with his face. The MVP of the night took another goal from Raúl García under the sticks and Atleti earned three points that show that the ‘Cholo’ team are strong in the League, looking to take advantage of the Clásico to get closer to the lead.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: ATHLETIC CLUB, 0 – ATLÉTICO DE MADRID, 1. (0-0, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS.
ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simón; De Marcos, Yeray (Vivian, min.87), Iñigo Martínez, Lekue; Vesga (Dani García, min.87), Sancet (Zarraga, min.87); Nico Williams (Villalibre, min.80), Muniain (Raúl García, min.67), Berenguer; and Iñaki Williams.
MADRID ATHLETIC: Oblak (Grbic, min.69); Molina, Savic, Giménez, Reinildo; Koke (Witsel, min.82), Kondogbia, De Paul (Saúl Ñíguez, min.70), Lemar (Joao Félix, min.82); Griezmann and Morata (Correa, min.70).
–GOL:
0 – 1, min.47, Griezmann.
–REFEREE: Figueroa Vázquez (C.Andaluz). He admonished Giménez (min.36), Morata (min.58), Oblak (min.68), Saúl (min.85), Witsel (min.92) and Grbic (min.95) at Atlético.
–STADIUM: San Mamés.